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Month: January 2013

Although I am not an Orthodox Christian, I found Robert Arakaki’s article very inspiring and informative. True discipleship is the best means not to be led astray by false prophets.

Avoiding Deception

(Matthew 24:4, 23-25)

False prophets and teachers are nothing new. For the past couple of weeks, I have been listening to lessons about the early church councils and their struggle against false doctrine. One heresy in particular teaching came around the 2nd century from a group called the Montanist. The leader of this group, Montanus, rejected the early church, the Apostle’s doctrine, and the leadership of the ordained ministers of the day as he preached a gospel to appeal to people’s ears rather than teach the truth. Montanus taught that he was a prophet and that truth came from speaking in tongues and prophetic utterances of himself and his believers. That…

The confluence of the days is no coincidence. Martin Luther King Jr’s Birthday will be celebrated on January 21st. This is also the same date of the Second Inauguration of President Barak Obama. Every American, in particular African-Americans, understand the importance and prophetic like significance of these events. King was the voice for a better America and helped lead the country out of the satanic state of segregation. Obama is a symbol of what anyone can achieve if they strive to do their best. There is no way I could nor would want to dispel these two great men. But, I do believe it is important for we as Protestant Christians, and especially African-American Christians to also regard Saint Anthony of Egypt. Today is his feast day.

St. Anthony the Great

St. Anthony the Great inherited great wealth from his parents and could have lived a life of great splendor. Yet hearing the Gospel message, he left his worldly possessions behind and took up a life of prayer in the desert. His devotion to prayer was a great influence on Bishop Athanasius of Alexandria who gave the church its first creed and was the first to compile the list of books that became our New Testament. Another Egyptian, Macarius, to write prayers that are still prayed by Orthodox believers around the world. Anthony’s defence of Jesus Christ as the incarnate Son of God during the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea helped the early church reject the heresy of Arianism. Yet, rather than bask in the glories of his achievements, Anthony kept returning to his cave. His followers followed his instructions and buried him in a secret grave so that he would not become the object of veneration.

The importance of Anthony is no less than that of MLK and Mr. Obama. As we celebrate these to great men, now is the time for us to open our hearts and minds to learn about and celebrate our African-Christian heroes (and the saints of other lands as well). Had there been no Anthony, the correct doctrines supported by Athanasius, Basil, Nicholas (yes, THAT St. Nicholas), and others may not have been as convincing to Emperor Constantine and the Council. The rich prayer tradition of Orthodox and Catholic monks and nuns would not have developed in such meaningful ways. Indeed, where would King have received his Holy Bible from? What sort of Bible would Mr. Obama take the oath of office on? The “Desert Fathers” of Africa should and must be a part of who we African-American Christians honor during Black History Month as without them, we (and the world) might not be here and not have a true idea of who Jesus Christ is.

Archbishop Iakovos with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

During the era of Dr. King, we were too busy with fighting for our Civil Rights to learn much about our Christian history. Now, it is possible that an African-American President who struggled during his first term could win a second. Nothing is stopping us from reading the books of the early church fathers and talking to Eastern and Oriental Orthodox clergy. Instead of choking our people on a diet of a modern Christian market, we can introduce them to the solid doctrines, prayers, and practices of our African ancestors. Even if we choose not to convert to Orthodoxy (and I think some of us should), we should know our history. We have no excuses not to learn.

And John tried to prevent Him saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and You are comming to me?”

Matthew 3:14

In both the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, we find the story of our Lord’s baptism between the Nativity and stories of his youth and his fasting in the wilderness and temptation from Satan. It is no accident that the Gospels are written like this. Certainly we all enjoy celebrations of birth. We enjoy the good and some of the challenging times of growing up. And we know that hard times and troubles are bound to arise in our adult lives. This is the pattern of the Gospel. That there were holy angels, joyful shepherds, and great wise men at the birth of Jesus. For a time, He and His family hid in exile. As a pre-teen, He dared to be about His Father’s business in Jerusalem in…

Perhaps you saw the book at a store. Maybe you saw the broadcast on some religious TV station. Media Minister Jentezen Franklin wants you to join his “FAST/2013” Movement. The book is being sold everywhere. One can contribute $58 to his ministry and receive a “FAST/2013 kit” consisting of a magazine, the book, DVD, and bracelets. Visit his website and one can order these products as well.

I pray you haven’t spent money on this “movement” and if you have, that you have kept your receipt. Fasting is a very good spiritual practice that Christians should participate. But, this practice is not simply a piece of wisdom for a modern preacher to turn into a product to be marketed. Fasting is a long-standing part of the Christian life that was ordained by Jesus Christ with a tradition handed down by the early church fathers.

St. Seraphim of Sarov

Michael Hyatt, the President and CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishing and an Orthodox Deacon) has a very good lesson about fasting on Ancient Faith Radio’s “At The Intersection of East and West” podcast. Anyone with internet access can listen to this two-part series (each about a half hour-long). Some of the other podcasters have some thoughts about fasting as well.

I urge you to take a look at what Mr. Franklin and Deacon Hyatt have to offer. Compare them based on the foundation of what tradition they are teaching from and which series of lessons leads you to a “humble walk with your God” (Micah 6:8). Ask yourself where do they get their doctrines and rules about fasting from.